October 27, 2015

The Landmark Society of Western New York announced their 3rd annual Five to Revive list at the Landmark Society’s offices in Rochester, NY yesterday, October 26, 2015 at 3:00 PM. The Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building found its place at number 4 on the prestigious list. The Five to Revive is a list of historic sites that the Landmark Society identifies each year as opportunities for targeted, strategic revitalization.

Each year these 5 properties become priority projects for the Landmark Society who will work collaboratively with owners, municipal officials and developers to facilitate investment and foster rehabilitation. The ultimate goal is to return important historic resources to a place of prominence in their respective communities, as economic and social assets that spark even more investment and revitalization.

Wayne Goodman, Landmark’s executive director, stated at the hour-long press conference that “This is the third year we are announcing a ‘Five to Revive’ list, which has been very effective in calling attention to key properties in Western New York that are in need of investment.” That was certainly music to the ears of Citizens Advocating Memorial Preservation (CAMP) members who attended the press conference.

The Landmark Society has been with CAMP since the first voices of protest were raised against demolition of the Memorial Building in Little Valley, NY in October of 2013. CAMP realizes that its efforts would have gone nowhere without the expert professional help from the staff at the Landmark Society.

CAMP members Nancy Bargar, Rose Mary Carvella, Warren Patterson, Gail Bellamy, Cyndy Whited, John Stengel and Tom Stetz were among a crowd of 30 attendees at the Landmark press conference.  They all were in agreement that this was another very important step on the long march towards preservation and reuse for Cattaraugus County’s most significant Civil War Memorial.

The event was also attended by a representative from US Senator Charles E. Schumer’s office and by Clinton Brown of Clinton Brown Company Architecture. And the press conference was recorded by a Rochester, NY television station crew for news broadcast later in the day.

(Please Click Images to Enlarge)

Landmark Society Executive Director Wayne Goodman announcing the lisiting of the Memorial Building as one of the Five to Revive with LSWNY Preservation Planner, Caitlin Meives

The Five to Revive listing of the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building by The Landmark Society of Western New York

CAMPer and Civil War re-enactor John Stengel at Five to Revive

CAMP Chairman Tom Stetz and CAMPer Nancy Barger

From left to right; CAMPers Nancy Barger, Warren Patterson, Tom Stetz, John Stengel, Cyndy Whited, Rose Mary Carvella and Gail Bellamy at Five to Revive